Wrong to say we didn’t release money to fight dengue: Delhi government

Delhi government on Tuesday rubbished media reports suggesting that the anti-maleria and dengue programmes of Delhi’s civic bodies were adversely affected by the ‘delay or non-release’ of funds by the state government.

A Delhi government statement called media reports incorrect adding that all three civic bodies had ‘plenty of unspent money to respond to dengue situation.’

It said, “The government wants to set the record straight and makes it clear that such reports are factually incorrect.

“The release of funds to the local bodies is a continuous and regular process. An amount of Rs 13.69 crore is lying with the three MCDs as unspent balance from the last financial year under Malaria & Dengue control programme.”

The statement added that the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) statement ‘dated 01.09.2015, had shown that Rs 3.59 crore was unspent balance since last year.’

It further added, “The SDMC spent Rs 4.59 crore under Malaria & Dengue control programme till August 2015. Hence, it is clear that the unspent money was available with the SDMC to take precautionary measures for prevention of Dengue.

“Rs 7.32 crore was unspent balance with the North Delhi Municipal Corporation as on 27.03.2015.”

As for the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, the statement said, an ‘unspent amount of Rs 2.97 crore was available with the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, as on 26.03.2015.’

The Delhi High Court last week had issued notices to the Centre and the state government on a PIL accusing the AAP government and MCDs of not acting vigilantly and responsibly to control dengue, a mosquito-borne tropical disease.